Push button switch



D. G. POWELL PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed July 11, 1958 March 8, 1960 f I I I II/ 48 50 l4 l6 I0 36 Dom/.0 G. POWLL 9 INVENTOR L an /ps8 PUSH BUTTON swrrcn Application July 747,911

2 Claims. {0. 200 -159) This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to push button switches of the type adapted to be operated by closure of a door.

An object of the present invention is to provide a push button switch of the single pole, double throw type which is readily adapted to be economically assembled from inexpensive components capable of being mass produced.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a push button switch of the single pole, double throw type adapted for simplified installation in a wall or panel aperture of an automotive vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following description.

taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention and mounted upon part of a panel shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the switch and panel;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the push button being shown in a different position of operation.

Referring to the drawings, a single pole, double throw switch embodying the present invention is shown sup- Operation of the switch is controlled by a generally cylindrical push button 54 'of insulatingmaterial'such as nylon which is slidable in aperture 32 of bezel 30. Push button 54 is provided at one end with a circumferentially disposed annular groove 56 in which the small diameterend of conical coil spring 58 is fixedly held by its resiliency. The opposite end of spring 58 engages ported in opening 10 of a supporting panel 12. The

switch includes a housing 14, preferably of molded insulation material such as nylon. Housing 14 is formed with a recess 16 extending from one end and terminating short of the other end to provide an end wall 18 having an opening 20. The end of the housing 14 opposite end wall 18 is slotted at several places along its length for a suitable distance to form a plurality of peripherally spaced arms 22 and resilient fingers 24. To facilitate insertion and retention of the switch in aperture 10 of the panel 12, fingers 24 extend outwardly from the housing at a suitable angle therewith.

The open end of the housing 14 is closed by a bezel 30 of conductive metal which has a central aperture 32 with an inwardly curled edge 34. The bezel 30 is attached to the housing 14 by tongue portions 36 which are bent over integral outwardly extending lugs 38 at the ends of arms 22. The inwardly tapered surfaces 40 of fingers 24 cooperate with bezel 30 to secure the switch in aperture 10 with the bezel being in electrical contact with the panel 12.

A terminal 42 is mounted against the external surface of wall 18 by means of a hollow eyelet 44 through which which extends an insulated conductor 46. Conductor 46 is suitably attached as by soldering to a movable contact 48 having an enlarged body portion 50 slidably mounted in the recess 16 of housing 14 for movement toward and away from eyelet 44 which serves as a stationary contact. Disposed between the enlarged body portion 50 of contact 48 and the end wall 18 is return,

spring 52 which surrounds eyelet 44 but is out of contact therewith.

body portion 50 of contact 48rto bias it againstthe force of return spring 52 to an intermediate position within the recess 16 as illustrated in Fig. 3L, In this position, the springs 52 and 58 urge the push button 54 to the right of Fig. 3 with the small diameter end of spring 58 engaging the curled edge 34 of bezel 30 and making electrical connection therewith. When the push button 54 is forced inwardly against the force of springs 52 and 58, the contact engagement between spring 58 and bezel 30 is interrupted and contact 48 will be pressed against eyelet 44 as shown in Fig. 4. Spring 58 exerts a greater bias than the opposing bias of spring 52 so that contact 48 is urged into engagement with eyelet 44 before the end of push button 54 can touch contact 48.

As shown the bezel 30 forms one terminal of the switch whereby when the switch is inserted into the aperture 10 of panel 12, it is connected with the ground circuit of a power source (not shown). It will be apparent that bezel 30 and terminal 42 are the stationary contact terminals of a single pole, double throw switch and conductor 46 is the movable contact terminal. In the push button position shown in Fig. 3, an electrical circuit is completed through conductor 46, contact 48, spring 58, bezel 30, and panel 12. As illustrated in Fig. 4 when a force is applied against the external end of push button 54 such as by a door (not shown), spring 58 is moved away from bezel 30 to interrupt the circuit from conductor 46 to bezel 30, and a second circuit is completed through conductor 46, contact 48, eyelet 44, and terminal 42.

In assembling the switch, terminal 42 and the end wall 18 of housing 14 are positioned upon the eyelet 44 which is then spun over. Conductor 46 is attached to contact 48 and spring 58 is secured to push button 54 after which spring 52, conductor 46 with attached contact 48, and spring 58 with secured push button 54 are inserted into the housing 14. The bezel 30 is secured to the housing by spinning over tongue portions 36 against lugs 38 of arms 22 to complete the assembly.

In installing the switch in an aperture-of a panel or wall, conductor 46 with any attached terminals is first inserted into the aperture after which the switch housing is pushed in the aperture. As the switch is pushed into the aperture, the resilient fingers 24 are sprung toward each other as they ride on the edge of the aperture. When the switch is fully inserted, bezel 30 engages one side of the panel or wall while the inwardly tapered surfaces 40 of fingers 24 bear against the edge of the aperture on the other side to firmly retain the switch in p ace.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways fallingwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical switch: a housing of insulating material having a recess extending from one end terminating short of the other end to provide an end wall having an opening therein; a metal bezel secured against said one end of the housing and having a central aperture with an inwardly curled edge; a push button of insulating material having one end extending into the housing through the aperture provided with a circumferentially disposed annular groove; a stationary contact assembled in the opening of the end wall; a movable contact slidable in the recess upon movement of the push button and adapted to engage the stationary contact; spring means within the housing urgingthe movable contact away from the stationary contact; aconical coil sprin'gof conductive materialfixedly held at its smalldiameter end inthe groove of the push button and engaging the movable contact to urge the push button away from-the movable Contact and to urge the'small diameter end of theconical vcoil spring into electrical engagement with thecurled edge of bezel aperture. 7

V 2, The electric switch as defined in claim 1 wherein -said housing is slotted alongits length at said;oneend opposite the end wall to provide a plurality of-cireumferventially spaced legs; some of the legs having outwardly extending lugs on the ends "thereof to which said bezel is attached; others of the legs extending outwardly from the housing to provide resilient spring retainers having inwardly'tapered ends; and said tapered ends of the spring retainers cooperating with the bezel for fixedly holding the switch in an opening fofiii'd iii supporting panel.

References Cited :in the-file of this patent 

